Last week, Falmouth mourned the news that popular Falmouth bar, The 'Front, is looking to sell its lease to new owners and would not be opening in the near future.

Matt Reay, former manager of The 'Front for fifteen years and now manager of new pub, The Moth and The Moon, joined the town in mourning the loss of Falmouth's bar on the Quay.

"More than just a pub, it's been a massive extended family for many people over the years, and that's what made it the amazing, magical, but down to earth boozer that it has been for all this time," Matt said to the community.

Falmouth Nub News met up with Matt to discuss his time as a manager at The 'Front and how his time at the popular quayside pub will influence the experience of The Moth and The Moon.

Matt Reay told Nub News:

"The Front has literally been my baby for the last fifteen years, seeing it grow from an average little harbourside boozer to a beloved haven of cask-conditioned ales and more, with the most amazing, crazy and beautiful family of regulars and some of the most amazing staff I've ever had the privilege to share a bar with.

"It's going to be a big gap to fill and a massive miss."

The Moth and The Moon opened earlier this year, only managing to trade for a month before having to close its doors due to COVID-19.

Matt continued:

"The Moth will, of course, bring some of what made The 'Front with it, as what I tried to make at The 'Front was a pub that I would want to drink in myself, and that ethos will carry on at The Moth."

"During our brief opening before lockdown, many of our friends, locals and staff from The 'Front would go between the two pubs for drinks which was lovely.

"We've already had requests from some of The 'Front locals for me to take their personal beer tankards from The 'Front and find a place for them at The Moth, which is really touching and quite emotional."

In its time of closure, The Moth has opened up the pub as The Moth License (off-license), this has allowed the community to get freshly poured pub quality beer throughout lockdown.

Matt and Jess made the decision to not reopen their doors on 4th July despite the government giving pubs, bars and restaurants the go-ahead.

Speaking on the decision, the pub detailed their premises "almost impossible" to enforce strict social distancing measures.

Matt added:

"The response to ourselves not opening on the 4th has been massively supportive and understanding.

"The majority of our customers who are using our Moth Licence takeaway are themselves still wary of using pubs at the moment and are quite happy to come to us for their draught cask-conditioned beers, draught Verdant Lightbulb, craft beer and cider needs, and the best range of organic and biodynamic wines in Falmouth.

"I think that even once we open the pub up fully, it's a service that we'll develop and continue with."